Fenwick Lions Award $10,000 in Scholarships
to Indian River Seniors
As they have each year since 1991, the Fenwick Island Lions Club has
devoted a considerable percentage of its annual budget to awarding
scholarships for area seniors graduating from the Indian River High School.
This year the board of directors voted to ‘ear mark’ some $10,000 for this
purpose.
Bruce Schoonover, president of the club, pointed out that “…while our fundraising efforts have
played a big part in our ability to be so generous, this year we also received over three thousand
dollars from individual members and others who gave money to the club, specifically for our
scholarship fund, in memory of past members, friends and spouses.
Two of the club’s scholarships have been fully funded by the families of Skip Higgins and Harold
Rabinowitz, who were both long time members of the club. A third one is provided in the memory
of Jackie Simpson, the wife of the founder of the club.
The winner of the $4,000 John Furlow Scholarship—named in honor of the long
serving chairman of the scholarship committee—is Katherine Marie Bird, daughter
of D. Scott and Lisa Bird of Millville, DE. Katherine will be attending the University of
Delaware in the fall where she will pursue her interest in biology, with an ultimate goal
of entering the research field.
Receiving the $1,000 Noble Simpson Scholarship—so named in honor
of the founder or our club—is an enterprising young man, Joost Elling, the son of
Bart and Christina Elling of Ocean View, Delaware who will enter the University of
Delaware this fall where he plans to major in Chemistry.
Amanda Beam, daughter of Mark and Tami Beam of Fenwick Island is
the recipient of the $1,000 Skip Higgins Memorial Scholarship. Amanda will be
attending the University of Delaware where she will pursue her interest in elementary
Education.
The $1,000 Jackie Simpson Memorial Scholarship recipient is Sarah
Marie Hickman, daughter of Gary and Judy Hickman of Frankfort, DE. After a busy
and well-rounded experience at Indian River, Sarah will be off to the University of
Delaware in the fall where she will pursue her long held in interest in biology.
Harry Franklin Wilgus III, son of Harry and Shelley Wilgus of
Georgetown, DE is the winner of the Harold Rabinowitz Memorial Scholarship. Harry
has decided to attend the University of Delaware where he is planning to enter a pre-
medicine academic program.
Receiving a $1,000 Scholarship is Michaiah Christine Hook, daughter
of Scott and Brandee Hook of Selbyville, DE. Michaiah will begin her undergraduate
music studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania in the fall.
Last, but by no means least, Olivia Crass, daughter of Keith and Nancy
Crass of Ocean View, DE is awarded a $1,000 Scholarship. Olivia will
be attending Shenandoah Conservatory, where she hopes to combine her love for
both music and teaching, into a career where she will be able to inspire others.
Commenting on the scholarship winners, John Furlow, longtime member of the
Fenwick Island Lions Club and Chairman of its scholarship committee since the club first began
giving scholarships, observed “…it is such a pleasure to be able to help these young individuals
pursue their dreams, even if it is in a relatively small way. We hope our funding of these
awards—and the well-deserved recognition it brings—serves to inspire all these young people to
excel in this exciting next phase of their lives.”
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